Best Law Firms in France
Practice Areas
Cities
About the 2026 Edition
The Best Law Firms - France rankings combine independent research, peer feedback and client perspectives to identify the firms at the forefront of the profession, offering a trusted resource for those seeking legal counsel in complex markets.
In the 2026 edition, 748 firms earned recognition across multiple practice areas and jurisdictions. Representing just 1% of the national legal market, these firms distinguish themselves through consistent excellence and noteworthy professional accomplishments.
This initiative builds on Best Lawyers' long-standing presence in France, where individual lawyers have been recognized for 17 years and complements more than 15 years of firm-level awards in the United States. Extending that experience to the French legal sector ensures that the rankings carry both credibility and practical value for clients seeking trusted representation.
Highlights
The evaluation process begins with a close look at firms within their practice areas, measured against peers in their respective regions. In France, this analysis spanned 50 areas of law and 14 jurisdictions, including Paris, Lyon, Angers, Strasbourg, Northern France, Bordeaux, Rennes, Toulouse, Marseille and Montpellier. This stage produced 3,177 regional rankings.
From there, the research extended to firms with a broader national presence. Across 30 practice areas, 292 firms were recognized for their ability to serve clients across multiple jurisdictions. Beyond these honors, the program also highlights standout achievement through the "Law Firm of the Year" awards, which single out one firm per practice area for exceptional performance. For 2026, 23 firms earned this distinction across 26 national categories.
Research Methodology
In this first year of the awards, we saw strong participation from law firms, clients and professionals across the French legal community, highlighting the value of the Best Law Firms research process.
Developed in 2009 and refined over the years, the methodology draws on input from clients, attorneys and firm leaders, as well as data provided directly by firms.
A firm becomes eligible for Best Law Firms recognition once its lawyers have earned individual listings in The Best Lawyers in France.
For additional details, please visit our France Expanded Methodology.
A Note from the Vice President of Research and Development
As Vice President of Research & Development at Best Lawyers and Best Law Firms, I am proud to share the depth and rigor behind our France rankings this year. Our research team surveyed more than 5,200 clients about their experiences with law firm practice groups and consulted nearly 1,500 lawyers for their perspectives on competitor firms. To complement these insights, we interviewed 81 managing partners and practice group leaders, bringing leadership experience and professional expertise into the process.
What makes these rankings unique is that they reflect both the profession itself and the clients it serves. By combining client feedback, peer evaluation and the guidance of firm leaders, we are able to highlight the firms that truly represent excellence in the legal marketplace. When clients turn to a Best Law Firms honoree, they can trust that their matter is in the hands of some of the most capable professionals in France.
Upcoming Research
The next edition of Best Law Firms – France will begin its research phase in early 2026. Our global research timelines are available on our website. To request a research submission packet, please contact us at bestlawfirms@bestlawyers.com
